“Better not call the law, get no blood on my Audemar” is just one of the many moments when Audemars Piguet is name-dropped by the likes of J. Cole and Jay-Z (this time, in ‘Mr Nice Watch’). More than a decade later, Dave and Stormzy’s banger ‘Clash’ arrived to prove that Audemars Piguet – alongside Rolex – continues to fly the flag for haute horology and influence Swiss made replica watches culture outside of its inner Swiss circles.
While The Crown remains the outright king of the luxury CA fake watches world in most people’s eyes – both culturally and by numbers – AP continues to enhance its reputation as one of the most sought-after grails in the game. But which models should you thirst after the most?
Here, Dimepiece gives us a definitive heads up of the difference between all the various perfect replica Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watches, as well as calling out the future classism of the Code 11.59.
Replica Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Watches
Although we often think back on the ‘90s as a decade sartorially defined by Calvin Klein’s minimalism and “heroin chic”, this was also the time that AP introduced the hulky, bulky Royal Oak Offshore. Born 30 years ago at the hand of Emmanuel Gueit in 1993, this Swiss movements copy watches was designed to attract a younger audience. Coming in hot with a 42mm case size and an extra thick 15mm height, you can imagine why this high quality replica watches – debuting before the oversized, Panerai-induced y2k watch wave – was nicknamed “The Beast.” Rumour has it that darling Gérald Genta was not pleased with the Beast, and indeed, it ruffled some feathers (Gstaad Guy likes to joke that the Royal Oak should remain “onshore”).
As a chronograph, it already has some presence – its rubber-clad pushers and crown weighing down the right-hand side of the case. The rubber, its size, those curvalicious lugs… here you had yourself a sporty, controversial timepiece decidedly veering from GG’s sleek design language but satisfying a hunger amongst “the youth” for sport and adventure. The ‘90s, after all, brought us the X-Games, baggy pants and grunge. It also brought us 1999’s End of Days, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger wearing – you guessed it – AAA replica Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore watches(he certainly has the guns to pull off The Beast).
The Offshore has emerged as a bit of a niche favourite over its three decades of life, beloved by those who perhaps remember Jay-Z’s limited-edition Offshore in 2005 and the fact that AP was (and still remains) one of the few Swiss watch brands cool enough to officially align themselves with – and acknowledge – hip hop’s enduring influence on the top fake watches world’s cultural cache. So cheers to the Offshore. Happy 30th. Nothing was the same.
Fake Audemars Piguet Code 11.59 and Code 11.59 Grande Sonnerie Watches
By now you’re probably thinking, does Audemars Piguet do anything but the Royal Oak?! Yes, of course, and many of them precede the Royal Oak, like their first QP or tourbillon (and, still, many of them remained under-hyped and under-valued, like the vintage ladies Swiss made replica watches Bad Bunny wore at this year’s Grammy Awards).
But Audemars Piguet is constantly forward-thinking, breaking rules, pushing boundaries… and in 2019, it launched the Code 11.59, declared a “new page in the Manufacture’s history.” A new page, indeed! It looks nothing like the Royal Oak (although it does have octagonal nods to its more famous family member) and is considered by the brand to be a contemporary evolution of classic round super clone watches wholesale. With its multifaceted, curved architecture, the polarising Code represents Audemars Piguet’s third attempt at changing the game (as it had with the Offshore and, of course, the 1972 Royal Oak).
Guns blazing, AP initially released the Code in an eye-watering 13 versions, with three new movements across six online replica watches types, including a perpetual calendar, automatic flying tourbillon and the impressive chiming ‘Supersonnerie’. The design itself differed from anything else out on the market, let alone the Royal Oak, and its curved sapphire presents a “unique optic experience” for the wearer, changing with his vantage point. Presented mainly in precious metals – with a whole lot of other design features that I am too tired to even get into – it received lukewarm reception, with watch nerds and collectors alike snidely sceptical of AP’s ability to successfully position itself as more than a one-collection watch brand.
But, as history has taught us, both the Royal Oak and the Offshore weren’t super-hits at first. And now… who’s laughing? The Code 11.59 is still on its journey, and this year’s updated releases, with its simpler design and stainless steel construction making for (relatively) more affordable versions, could point towards a more optimistic fate. Time will tell, so set your fake watches shop and pay attention.